World Vision Bangladesh Co-hosts 3rd Urban Dialogue 2015

To bring the undialogued urban issues in a discussion table, share actions and good practices on

different urban issues, ensure collaborations among all levels of stakeholders and recognizing a

common platform of actions, the 3rd Urban Dialogue 2015 was jointly organized by Urban INGO

Forum, Bangladesh (a consortium of 12 International Non-Government Organizations) and

Department of Disaster Science & Management of University of Dhaka. The two days long dialogue

was held from 25 – 26 August 2015 at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban at University of

Dhaka. The theme of the 3rd Urban Dialogue was „Resilience‟. Among other NGOs, World Vision

Bangladesh was co-host in organizing the dialogue where the organization hosts two parallel sessions

on Urban WASH and Solid Waste Management and one side event on children‟s living experiences

in the cities.

World Vision Bangladesh in 3rd Urban Dialogue 2015

In 3rd Urban Dialogue 2015, World Vision Bangladesh

(WVB) hosted two parallel sessions on WASH reality

in Urban Low Income Communities and Waste

Management in Urban Areas: Challenges and

Opportunities. The waste management session was

jointly contributed by Swisscontract, Oxfam and

Islamic Relief.

Besides, World Vision Bangladesh organized a

children‟s session on sharing their living experiences in

the cities where children participated from different

areas of the capital and shared their living experiences.

Along with, World Vision Bangladesh also participated

and contributed in organizing inaugural and concluding

session of the dialogue.

3rd Urban Dialogue: At a Glance

- Inaugural and Concluding Session

- Six parallel sessions on Waste

Management, WASH Challenges,

Urban Livelihood, Urban Disaster

Risk Reduction, Resilient Cities for

the Children, Urban Housing.

- One side event on cities for children

- 700 + participants in two days long

dialogue

- University of Dhaka was strategic

partner

- 12 INGOs jointly organized - Urban Declaration as outcome of the

dialogue

Inaugural Session: 25 August 2015

In the welcome speech, Wilfred Sikukula, Senior Field

Operations Director, WVB mentioned that this is the vital

time organize dialogue for popularizing the urban issues.

Referring the ever increasing trend of growing population in

urban, he mentioned that urban is a reality that transcends

the boundary of a country and is a global phenomenon. To

address the challenges of urban including increasing risk of

urban disasters; collaboration among the stakeholders

particularly among the organizations is inevitable.

Professor ASM Maksud Kamal, Chairman of Disaster Science

and Management, University of Dhaka focused on the

complex nature of urban. He hoped the 3rd Urban Dialogue will unfold opportunities to address the

urban challenges in close association with all stakeholders.

Professor Dr. Sheikh Tawhidul Islam, Department of Geography and Environment, Jahangirnagar

University presented the key note of the dialogue. He pointed out that the objectives of urban

planning or management were not sufficiently aligned with reducing disaster risks hence resulted in

limited scope for accommodating disaster risk reduction issues and measures in current urban

planning process. He also identified the spatial problems, lack of planning for low income

communities and possibilities of the extension of secondary cities in his presentation.

“30% of urban people are contributing to 65%

of GDP. So there is direct economic benefit

from urbanization” – Prof. Dr. Nazrul Islam

Urban expert and key discussant in inaugural session, Prof. Dr. Nazrul Islam remarked that INGOs

often face problem to understand urban challenges and design their program accordingly.

Urbanization has expanded globally. Currently, 53% population of the world is dwelling in cities.

Percentage wise it is still low for Bangladesh, 30% but the number is huge in terms of the population

of Bangladesh. By 2030, more than half of the population of Bangladesh will be in urban. Urbanization

in Bangladesh is spatially non-balanced. He underlined, 30% of urban people are contributing to 65%

of GDP. So there is direct economic benefit from urbanization. He pointed out that though

Bangladesh has made significant economic progress since liberation, still around 50% of its population

belongs to lower income group.

Guests in Inaugural Session:

- Wilfred Sikukula, Senior Field

Operations Director, WVB

- Prof. ASM Maksud Kamal,

Chairman of Disaster Science

and Management, University of

Dhaka

- Professor Dr. Sheikh Tawhidul

Islam, Dept. of Geography and

Environment, Jahangirnagar

University

- Prof. Dr. Nazrul Islam, Urban

Expert, Former Chair,

University Grant Commission

- Professor Dr. Nasrin Ahmed,

Pro-VC of Dhaka University

- Shahidullah Miah, Additional

Secretary, Ministry of Disaster

Management and Relief

(MoDM&R)

- M.A. Mannan, State Minister,

Ministry of Finance and Planning

- John A. Armstrong, National

Director, Habitat for Humanity

He mentioned data on urban population is scarce. The data provided by BBS in 2011 census does

not clearly define urban. Also, the number of slum dwelling population provided by BBS is not

convincing. Also, segregated data is not available. He suggested for scientific mapping to generate

accurate data because data provided by government and other organizations do not match and show

significant discrepancy.

Outlining government‟s initiatives for urban, he shared

that Govt. has established Bangladesh Urban Forum but it

has limited their intervention. Dr. Islam emphasize on

preserving hills, water bodies and greeneries where

personal safety and security of women and children is

another concern in urban area. He requested NGOs to

join hands with research organizations to address urban

challenges and believed that these issues should be

addresses to build an equitable and efficient city.

Professor Dr. Nasrin Ahmed, Pro-VC of Dhaka University

mentioned that Dhaka has been named as the second

least livable cities of the world. She hoped that this forum

will be a platform to showcase the best practices of the

INGOs and to share and exchange their views and ideas.

She expected that the dialogue will opt to make sure that

Bangladesh achieves urban resilience.

Shahidullah Miah, Additional Secretary, Ministry of

Disaster Management and Relief (MoDM&R), Special

Guest detailed out govt.‟s initiatives to mitigate disaster

risks and related hazards and to build equitable and

efficient urban areas.

Chief Guest, M.A. Mannan, State Minister, Ministry of

Finance and Planning stated that Urbanization is growing

rapidly in Bangladesh and in near future the whole country

could develop as one city with advancement. In such, the ensuring the access to basic services for all

is vital. He hoped that all the stakeholders by sharing their knowledge, learning and views, through

the dialogue may take the initiative of working together forward.

John A. Armstrong, National Director, Habitat for Humanity urged the audience to discuss and

address the growing challenges of urban and take forward the solutions as actions. He stated that

urban hazards are recognized but the uniqueness of this forum is collaboration among all

stakeholders. One INGO organized the first dialogue, now 12 INGOs have joined hand to organize

Guests and Discussants in Waste Management Session: - Dr. Tariq Bin Yusuf,

Superintendent, Dhaka North

City Corporation

- Captain Raquib Uddin, Chief

Waste Management Officer,

Dhaka South City Corporation

- Captain Bipan Kumar Saha,

Chief Waste Management

Officer, Dhaka North City

Corporation

- Dr. Md Anwar Hossain

Howlader, Director, 3R

Project and Office for the

Dhaka Metropolis, Department

of Environment, GoB

- Kazi Sarwar Imtiaz Hasmi,

Additional Director General,

Department of Environment,

GoB

- Md. Akhter Mahmud, PhD,

General Secretary, Bangladesh

Institute of Planners

- Md. Ekramul Haque Titu,

Mayor, Mymensing Municipality

the 3rd Urban Dialogue where all these people are brainstorming and discussing about the urban

issues and new ideas.

With Mr. Armstorng‟s vote of thanks the inaugural session was concluded. The inaugural session was

moderated by Mohammed Norul Alam Raju, Coordinator – 3rd Urban Dialogue organizing

committee and National Urban Coordinator for World Vision Bangladesh.

Parallel Session IV:

Waste Management in Urban areas: Challenges and Opportunities

Waste management challenges and opportunities were discussed in the session focusing current and

future challenges, open disposal, management authorities, public awareness, recycling, relevant

policies and 3R strategy.

Dr. Tareq Bin Yousuf, Superintendent Engineer, Dhaka North

City Corporation in his key note presentation mentioned that

the present waste collection rate is in between 50% and 70% for

disposing that to the landfills. People disposing their household

waste scattered causes environmental degradation.

Open dumping, lack of formal recycling sectors, lack of improve

collection system and lack of awareness (Institutional and

individual level), shortage of landfills, size of landfills, distance of

landfills, lack of proper initiatives for reduce, reuse and recycling

of generated waste have been mentioned as core challenges.

He also mentioned that the limited manpower, proper

equipment and finance thwart the responsible authorities‟

initiative to develop an integrated solid waste management plan

for effective management of the waste. He discussed that for

reducing the burden of the generated waste national 3R strategy

has been taken.

Captain Raquib Uddin, Chief Waste Management Officer, Dhaka

South City Corporation (special guest) mentioned that the most

of dumping container placed in front of or nearby the school,

college, office or any residents

which create bed smell.

Though; few areas segregated

their waste influence of private

sector, but those mixed up

during dumping by the waste

collector. And as a result

people loss their interest. The

transfer station and landfills are

too small due to generated

waste continuously. Most of

the vehicles used for

transferring waste from

dumping station to landfills are

expired. Though several

private sectors initiated bins into campus of Dhaka University but the students not use those

properly.

Captain Bipan Kumar Saha, Chief Waste Management Officer, Dhaka North City Corporation

(special guest) pointed out that there are 2397 tons waste has been generated per day in the area

under the jurisdiction of Dhaka North City Corporation.

Dhaka North City Corporation has planned to construct 72 transfer stations and for this instance

they have bit tender amount of 17 crore taka. It‟s a common behavior that, after discarding the

waste from household the mass people thought that, they have finished their job. The City

Corporation has a plan to allocate government place for landfill.

Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain Hawlader, Join Secretary, Department of Environment (special guest)

discussed that the 3R strategy is not a synchronizing plan. It‟s a scattered effort. No collaboration

with the private and government has been ensured so far. We need to have a plan for zero waste

strategy emphasizing the importance reduce and reuse of waste. If we spend more than 2 minutes to

manage our waste will reduce the 200 labors effort of City Corporation.

Kazi Sarwar Imtiaz Hasmi, Additional Director General, Department of Environment (special guest)

recommended to take combined strategy for proper waste management. He mentioned that it is

required to produce one time use materials and for reduce the burden of disposal waste not only

increase the number of landfills but also increase the recycling industry.

Prof. Dr. Md. Akhter Mahmud, General Secretary, Bangladesh Institution of Planners (special guest)

introduced some of the basic point of waste management like the image of Dhaka city from waste

management perspective, problems in waste collection systems, limitation in the process of waste

collection and strategic plan for waste collection.

Dr. Moinul Haque Ansawary, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Forest and Environment (special guest)

mentioned that considering the huge population in Dhaka city; the waste management is mostly

challenging for lack of manpower, land, finance, technical expertise and synchronizing plan with the

other sector like private sector, communities.

During his speech Md.

Ekramul Haque Titu,

Mayor, Mymensingh

Pouroshova (special guest)

said that to compost, to

produce power, to the

recycle into new products

it is required proper

management of the

municipal waste. He

suggested ensuring waste

management in our

infrastructural

development plan,

improving the collection

facilities and recycling of

medical waste and to

aware people regarding

waste management issues.

In the interactive question and answer session the audience asked their questions to the guests and

the guest answered to the audience.

In the session „Waste Management in Urban Areas: Challenges and Opportunities‟ all the

stakeholder from policy level to implementing institutes along with the academia discussed about the

challenges of municipal waste management and the way out of that. The NGO representative also

discussed about their experience in the session.

The session was also a platform to unite all the stakeholders working with urban waste management

and learn their initiative and experience.

Guest and Discussants:

- Stephen K. Halder, WVB

- Fatema Begum, NDBUS

- Community Representatives

- Mr. S.M.A. Rashid, Executive

Director - NGO Forum for

Public Health

- Engr. Uttam Kumar Roy,

Commercial Manager – Dhaka

Water Supply and Sewerage

Authority (DWASA)

- Engr. Khaleda Ahsan, Chief

ngineer, Dept. of Public Health

Engineering (DPHE), GoB

Parallel Session V:

WASH Reality in Urban Low Income Communities

WASH session was inaugurated by a 30 minutes Drama

on WASH by Aranyak Nattadal (theatre troop). The

drama highlighted the sufferings of the slum dwellers for

having illegal water connections and lack of access to

sanitation. Followed by the drama, people from low

income communities shared their problems regarding

WASH that they face in their daily lives. They stated that

they had to suffer for lack of access to water, sanitation

and hygiene. However, interventions at Beguntila slum by

WVB changed their lives from many aspects.

After the sharing from the low income communities, the

speaker state that integration of government‟s efforts

with other private efforts and community ownership can

ensure cost-efficient and safe WASH practices.

The guest mentioned that about 50% of the low income

communities do not have access to formal supply lines of

water in Dhaka. As a result, sometimes they depend on

illegal water vendors for illegal water connections at a

higher price. Regular supply of safe water gets disrupted as these vulnerable illegal connections gets

broken and mixed with drain water or wastes sometimes. Consequently, the water gets polluted and

water borne diseases spread. Particularly children get severely affected.

Speaker shared that drainage and sewerage systems in low income communities are unplanned and

unhealthy. Many of the people in these communities use a common sanitary latrine for several

families. Faults in drainage and sewerage system ultimately pollutes the surrounding environment

mostly the canals, lakes and rivers. In some worst cases, these people use the polluted water from

these canals or rivers for bathing and washing necessary household materials. Other good hygiene

practices are also rarely seen in these communities.

Side Events:

Children’s Living Experiences in the Cities

As part of the dialogue, a side event was organized where children shared their living experiences in

the cities. More than 50 children were participated in the interactive session where they discussed

the problems they face in their daily lives and the future city that they want for them. The core

problem identified by the children were eve teasing, sexual harassment, early marriage, school and

education system, lack of play ground, risk of disasters, traffic jam, water logging and waste

management. Prominent actor, dramatist and writer of Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid was present as

mentor in the session.

The children feel with the digitalization the eve teasing is even being digitalized. Use of mobile phone

has become massive for eve teasing. Sending irritating messages, taking photos in the mobile phone

has spread. Even most of the girls present in the session reported that either they faced or

witnessed sexual harassment in the schools. Even, parents consider marriage as a solution for eve

teasing. The children mentioned that many of their friends got married by this time. Though, the

child forum members were successful in preventing early marriage several times; in few months the

marriage actually took place in a different place. Another problem to prevent early marriage

mentioned by children is fraud birth registration. The parents spend some money to get a fraud birth

registration that certify the false increased age.

About the education, the children stated that most of them cannot afford to go to private schools.

And the public school education system is very poor with low quality of education. At the same

time, most of the schools do not have a playground. Also, the schools do not provide instructions

about the urban disasters like earth quake.

To state the intensity if traffic jam, the children mentioned that that they had to start before 2 to 3

hours and to travel only 8 to 10 km and to reach the session timely. They also mentioned about

severe water logging and waste management problems particularly at rainy season.

Mamunur Rashid shared his childhood moments and scenario to compare with the present

challenges of city lives. He mentioned that interventions are vital for addressing the urban issues and

all should work together for ensuring a safer city for children. In addition to increasing community

and parent‟s awareness, policy implementations are necessary.

Side Event:

Showcase Best Practices

All the organizers INGOs contributed in the urban stalls that exhibited the projects,

products to showcase on relevant urban theme. The organizers showcased their past and

current interventions, project progress on the relevant theme, best practices, achievements,

advocacy materials and initiatives.

Though these stall all the organizations working on a particular theme exhibited their

activities together. These stalls demonstrated that core activities and achievements in the

WASH, waste management, child protection, livelihood, climate change, DRR and housing.

Concluding Session and Urban Declaration

Preamble:

Urban INGO Forum, Bangladesh and Dept. of Disaster Science and Management, University of

Dhaka, jointly organized two days long 3rdUrban Dialogue 2015 from 25-26 August. Along with

inaugural and concluding session, the 3rd Urban Dialogue included six parallel sessions such as

Housing and Land Tenure, Livelihood, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation,

Waste Management, WASH and Child Wellbeing. Besides, one side event was organized where

children shared their living experience in the cities.

Following are the issues identified from two days long urban dialogue:

1. We recognize and find the importance of urban sector and the urbanization process for

future development of Bangladesh.

2. Rapid urbanization increase through unplanned population growth, migration, unplanned

settlement and expansion of administrative boundaries are the major reasons for urban

poverty.

3. We also recognize; along with these, unskilled labor, limited employment opportunities,

degraded environment, poor housing, road safety and hazards for the urban communities,

lack of access to safe water and sanitation services, causes poverty in urban areas.

4. We also recognize that climate induced disasters and associated risks also increase the trend

of rapid urbanization and increased rate of migration.

5. Hazardous and labor intensive job affects poor community‟s health condition; therefore, the

urban poor are in a difficult situation to escape poverty. Housing crisis for the migrated

peoples is also recognized as one of the major concerns for the urban citizens. As vulnerable

groups, children and women also encounter severe problems in their daily lives.

6. Furthermore, we recognize; have generally been made worse by inadequate urban

governance. This is caused by over-centralization and inadequate popular participation.

7. Private public partnership.

Guests in Concluding Session:

- Saibal Sangma, Senior

Advisor, WVB

- Munirul Islam, Program

Manager, IR

- Soumya Guha, Deputy

Country Director, Plan

Bangladesh

- Sonya Syafitri, Program

Manager, Oxfam

- Md. Akhtaruzzaman, UN Habitat Programme Manager and Representative in Bangladesh

- Md. Ikramul Haque Titu,

Mayor, Mymensingh

Pouroshava

- Prof. ASM Maksud Kamal,

Chairperson, Disaster Science

and Management, University

of Dhaka - Khondker Fowze Muhammed

Bin Farid, Director, Urban

Development Directorate

(UDD)

8. We recognize City Wide Approach through inter-

agency coordination and collaboration both in govt.

and non-govt agencies in order to effective

utilization of shared resources is essential for

comprehensive urban development.

Following are the demands which have been raised

during the 3rd Urban Dialogue 2015:

9. Government of Bangladesh will recognize the Low

Income communities as urban citizens by ensuring

all the basic amenities.

10. Government of Bangladesh will ensure adequate

safe water and sanitation facilities to the low income

communities. Like LIC Unit in Dhaka, the unit

should be initiated in other major and secondary

cities.

11. Government of Bangladesh needs to take immediate

action to enact Urban Sector Policy.

12. Urban Disaster Management will get special

attention from all the corners. Interventions for

urban disaster preparedness, especially earthquake,

implementation of contingency plan and Bangladesh

National Building Code are necessary.

13. Government of Bangladesh will approve the draft

Housing Policy and develop implementation

strategy.

14. As per the ICRC commitment, Government will

take necessary action to create a child friendly city

ensuring all the necessities.

15. Inclusion of domestic workers and other informal workers in Labor Law and recognition as

workers.

16. Coordination should be developed between implementing (Municipality) and policy making

institute (Department of Environment) for solid waste management. In addition, SWM and

its awareness should be included in school curriculums.

Future Plan/ Look forward/ Look Ahead/ Commitment

17. We jointly commit to the institutionalization of the Urban INGO Forum Bangladesh where

participation of University of Dhaka adds institutional value to the joint effort.

18. We expect to handover the action points to the Government of Bangladesh and other

policy institutions to take the joint initiatives forward and popularize the urban agenda.

19. We firmly believe, this joint initiative will continue in future and Urban INGO Forum,

Bangladesh will develop a road map for future interventions which will cover beyond the

capital city.

3rd Urban Dialogue Organizers:

World Vision Bangladesh’s Report for 3rd Urban Dialogue 2015

Special Thanks

Central Eastern Region, WVB, Mirpur Urban Development Initiatives Program

Financial Supports

Mirpur Urban Development Initiatives Program

Report Compilation

Bipasha Dutta, WVB

Mohammed Norul Alam Raju, WVB

Report Preparation Supports

Rashadul Hassan, Swisscontract

Nandini Shahla Chowdhury, PLAN International Banlgadesh

Photo Credit

Tamzidul Islam, WVB, Fatema Meherunnessa, DSK, Islamic Relief, Save the Children and Plan Bangladesh

Advisory Supports

Wilfred Sikukula, WVB

Saibal Sangme, WVB

Language, Editing and Design Mohammed Norul Alam Raju, WVB